MARYLAND GAMING: With a twist, per the Baltimore Sun, “When plans called for a Harrah's to rise not far from M&T Bank Stadium, the Baltimore casino was slated to have 3,750 video lottery terminals delivering 67 percent of revenue to the state. Instead, a Horseshoe casino — a brand known for its ties to big-money poker games — will fill the vacant lot on Russell Street. It will house 2,500 slots, with the leftover space used in part to accommodate 900 seats around 130 table games. The state receives only 20 percent of table games revenue.

“Horseshoe isn't the only Maryland casino to dial back on its slot machines in favor of more lucrative table games, approved by state referendum last November. Hollywood Casino in Perryville has cut its slots from 1,500 to 1,148, Maryland Live Casino idled several hundred slot machines to make room for table games and the Rocky Gap Casino Resort opened last month with 558 machines, down from the 850 first proposed. Still, casino operators and state officials say the shift toward poker, blackjack and roulette won't reduce Maryland's cut of casinos' windfall.” http://bsun.md/17CIqFj

EGYPT: A waiting game, per the New York Times, “Egypt was in state of tense uncertainty on Tuesday after the military delivered an ultimatum to the country’s first democratically elected president, hundreds of thousands of protesters renewed calls to oust him from office and the president’s Islamists allies vowed to take to the streets to stop what they called “a military coup.”

“In a military communiqué read over state television Monday that echoed the announcement toppling former President Hosni Mubarak two chaotic years ago, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces demanded that President Mohamed Morsi satisfy the public’s demands within 48 hours, or else the generals would impose their own “road map” out of the crisis.” http://nyti.ms/13nwKXM

EDWARD SNOWDEN: Of a chess match, per the Washington Post, “Fugitive Edward Snowden has asked Russia for political asylum, according to a consular official who spoke out after President Vladi¬mir Putin said Monday that such a request might be considered if Snowden refrained from releasing harmful information about the United States on Russian soil.

“Putin’s suggestion that Russia might seek to impose some constraints on the former National Security Agency contractor was an unusual gesture from a foreign leader who has been a strong critic of the United States. But any offer of asylum from Russia would defy Washington’s requests that Snowden be returned to the United States.” http://wapo.st/13iIlbR

TAKE TWO?: Virginia Beach oceanfront braces itself, per the Virginian-Pilot, “Two scantily clad women beckon from the top of the flier. "Virgina Beach Beach Weekend Turnup Pt. 2," it announces in bold lettering, misspelling and all. It's reminiscent of fliers that appeared two months ago for College Beach Weekend.

“The city is still reeling from that event in April, which drew as many as 40,000 people to the Oceanfront, crowding the streets and leading to three shootings, three stabbings and 148 arrests. Like College Beach Weekend, which was heavily marketed on social media, the most recent flier popped up on Facebook and Twitter. It gives the dates July 26 through 28, and states, "If you went to the first one, you know the #turnup is real." Should the city be gearing up for a repeat? The short answer is: It's not clear.” http://bit.ly/12ANQQ5

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN: Words, per the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “As a gubernatorial candidate, Bob McDonnell recognized that health care becomes more expensive when uninsured people go to emergency rooms for routine ailments. So he made this promise in a September 2009 policy paper: "The McDonnell administration will increase the funding provided to Virginia"s community health centers and free clinics.”

“Since coming to office, however, McDonnell has repeatedly tried to cut funding to community health centers, free clinics and other "safety net” organizations that serve the uninsured and medically underserved.” http://bit.ly/16JQGlR

POLITICO PLAY: “Rep. Paul Ryan has committed to dramatically ramping up his fundraising appearances to help fellow House Republicans, a move that will help boost his political muscle among GOP lawmakers and bring piles of cash to the party’s election arm. Ryan, the former GOP vice presidential candidate and current chairman of the House Budget Committee, has 20 political events scheduled between now and the end of 2013, according to a Republican aide.” http://politi.co/10wwlQc

JUST THE FACTS: As in, just the facts, per ABC7—WJLA, “A 41-year-old Washington man was arrested last Friday after police say he set another man on fire in Southeast D.C. as part of a continuing confrontation. According to charging documents, 41-year-old Shawn Lewis doused the victim, identified as Douglas Farley in an unknown liquid, lighted a newspaper on fire and threw it on him. It all happened just before 6 p.m. Friday near 21st and R streets Southeast.” http://wj.la/10uKBJ9

FBI: Of a house hunt, per City Paper, “Washingtonian reports that among the 35 proposals submitted to the federal government to relocate the FBI from its Pennsylvania Avenue NW headquarters was one from Republic Properties to keep the agency downtown by moving it near Union Station. Republic Properties confirms the report of a proposed site between North Capitol Street, H Street, and New Jersey and Massachusetts avenues NW, on what's currently a Government Printing Office parking lot.

“This is something of a surprise, to say the least. Suburban members of Congress have been fighting for the rights to the FBI as part of a swap with the federal government; Prince George's County in Maryland and Fairfax County in Virginia are considered the likeliest candidates. Meanwhile, D.C. pitched its own site, at Poplar Point on the Anacostia River. There's been no mention of the Union Station-area site.” http://bit.ly/Xg7VbS

FUN TIMES IN D.C.: Yep, yep, yep, per the Washington Times, “When D.C. Lottery operator Emmanuel S. Bailey heard that he had been besmirched in connection with convicted felon and former D.C. Council member Michael A. Brown, he knew who to call. But a cease-and-desist letter from superlawyer Billy Martin to a detractor of Mr. Bailey only hints at the sensitivity of his connection with Brown, which comes amid an ongoing corruption probe in the nation’s capital by U.S. Attorney Ronald C. Machen Jr.” http://bit.ly/1cKjigq

ARIZONA BURNING: Looking for answers, per the Arizona Republic, “As the Yarnell Hill Fire continues to rage uncontrolled, Arizona officials launched an investigation to find out how a fast, erratic wildfire killed 19 Prescott hotshot firefighters and whether the tragedy could have been averted. Fire conditions were among the most dangerous some experts had ever seen. Low humidity, high temperatures and extremely dry and dense fuel created a worst-case scenario for the crew, which was trapped between two ridges when the winds suddenly reversed.” http://bit.ly/11Wsop4

DEATH DIVE: Just the facts, per ARLnow, “A soldier who was stationed at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall has been found dead in the Potomac River. Vincent Crapps, 24, is believed to have drowned after diving off cliffs on the Virginia side of the river. After an extended search and rescue effort, his body was found by Montgomery County (Md.) Police Monday afternoon.” http://bit.ly/17PIc1f

SPORTS, BRIEFLY: Nationals beat Milwaukee 10-5.

TRENDING ON ABC7 FACEBOOK: “A teen jogging in Fairfax County Saturday night was able to fight off her attacker. When her mace failed, the 15-year-old threw some elbows and ran off. Now she's warning people to always be aware of their surroundings.” http://wj.la/13mHNjX

NEWSTALK: Among today’s guests (10 a.m., NewsChannel 8) is noted journalist Jonathan Alter, who will be asked about his new book, “The Center Holds: Obama and his Enemies.”